The McPherson brothers, Cody, 9, and Colton, 5, of Bradenton, create a sandy snowman on Christmas Day on the beach in Anna Maria. The boys said tourists enjoyed taking pictures with their beach creation. Islander Photo: Courtesy Laura McPherson

Former Anna Maria resident and artist Mark Alonso, left, and wife Miren, second from left, now residing in Michigan, visit the Where’s Woody art show at The Islander newspaper Dec. 22. They visited for the holidays — Thanksgiving to Christmas — along with lots of family, kids and grandkids. They are pictured with daughter Ginny Alonso and artist Linda Molto, right. Islander Photo: Bonner Joy

Santa greets some of the more than 120 children from Healthy Families of Manatee County, Head Start and Children’s Academy of Southwest Florida at the 19th annual Lawton Chiles Christmas for Kids Party at the Sandbar Restaurant. Santa arrived via watercraft from the Gulf of Mexico courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard and Manatee County Marine Rescue teams. The day also included lunch, presents from Santa, a bounce house, face-painting, crafts and a treasure hunt. Islander Photo: Courtesy Lisa Castro

An endangered green sea turtle hatchling is one of about 40 rescued from a nest Dec. 7 in Anna Maria. It was the last known sea turtle nest of any species in the state to hatch in the 2012 season. Islander Photo: Mark Young

Norma Buchanan rounds up six granddaughters — third generation Anna Maria Elementary students Madison, Lauren, Jade and Reagan Buchanan and Zoey and Lyla Smith — all modeling the work of “Tony the balloon Guy” at Fun Day. Islander Photo: Edna Tiemann.  Click here for more Fun Day photos

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Karen Newhall’s Anna Maria Elementary School second-graders spell out their holiday greetings in the school media center, 4700 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Islander Photo: Courtesy Karen Newhall

Karen Abel and her daughter Alexandra tell the story of Karen’s grandfather, who fought in the Aleutian Islands WWII campaign, at the Nov. 9 Veterans Day ceremony at Holmes Beach City Hall.

AME media center teacher Lynne McDonough, who coordinated the school’s mock vote with eStudiesWeekly software, congratulates fifth-grader Adam Carlson on casting his ballot Oct. 31. The national event was extended to Nov. 5 to allow voting in storm-damaged areas in northeast states, but Obama led the race at AME. Islander Photo: Kathy Prucnell

Anna Maria Elementary Principal David Marshall chats with Zero the Hero, Todd Persinger before the Oct. 27 Fall Festival Parade. Islander Photos: Karen Riley-Love